Cabinet fan



A. H. EUCZKLEY CABINET FAN Filed Jan. 15, 1928 3 Sheets--Sheet l ATTRNEYE.

y 21, 1929- A. H. BUCKLEY 1, 71,945

CABINET FAN Filed Jan. 13', 1928 3 Sheets-$heet 2 INVENTQR May 21, 1929.A H, BUCKLE, 1,713,946

CABINET FAN Filed Jan. 13, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented May 21, 1929.

UNITED STATES" ARTHUR H. BUGKLEY, 0F MISSION TOWNSHIP, JOHNSON COUNTY,KANSAS.

CABINET FAN.

Application filed January 13, 1928: Serial No. 246,643.

This invention relates to electric cabinet fans and more especially tothe portable type for standing on a table, mantel or analogous support.

Heretofore fans of the type mentioned have either been of theconventional type with only a wire guard around them which leaves thefan fully exposed to view at all times or of that type completely hiddenwithin an ornamental casing which materially reduces the eiiiciency ofoperation of the fan because the discharge of air occurs throughopenings in the casing.

My object is to provide, as a new article of manufacture, a fan whichshall in operation, possess the full efliciency of the conventional typeof fan and the same advantage, as an ornament, of the hidden type.Accordingly I have provided a casing or housing of attractive contourand open at the front and containing a fan and an ornamental screen atopposite ends of the motor and so arranged as to provide for a rotativeadjustment to dispose the fan adjacent the back of the housing and thescreen as a 010' sure for the open front side, or with the screenadjacent the back of the housing and the fan exposed at the open frontside of the latter, the latter being the position when the fan is inoperation and the former when it is desired to utilize the device as anornament merely. A device of the character above briefly outlined,avoids the necessity of storing the fan during the cold periods of theyear and yet leaves it quickly available at all times, for efficientservice.

A further object is to produce a device of the character outlined,adjustable to circulate air horizontally or downwardly and forwardly orupwardly and forwardly, and another object is to make provision for thelateral automatic oscillation of the fan, and for permitting the latter,without injurious results, such as the burning out of the motor, to bearrested at any point in its arc of oscillation and to be brought'backto a centralized position relative to the housing, this latteradjustment in an oscillatory fan, being necessary preliminary to hidingthe fan within and exposing the screen at the open end' of the housing.

lVith the general objects mentioned and others as will hereinafterappear in view, the invention consists in certain novel and usefulfeatures of construction and organization as hereinafter described andclaimed;

and in order that it may be fully understood, reference is to be had tothe accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of a cabinet fan embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged central vertical section of the housing elementand of a screen forming a part of the appliance, the operative mechanismbeing disclosed in side elevation.

Figure 3 is a view showing the housing in horizontal section and theoperative features in top plan View.

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical section of the knob or handle foreffecting horizontal rotative adjustment of the operative elements ofthe appliance andan upper pivot plate for engagement by the knob tosecure the operative elements at one extreme or the other of theadjustment mentioned.

Figure 5 is a horizontal section on the line VV of- Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an enlarged top plan view of the lower pivot plate for therotative ad justment mentioned of the operative elements.

Figure 7 is a section on the line VHF-VII of Figure 6 and also shows indotted lines part of the lower supporting bracket for the operativeelements.

Figure 8 is a rear View of the operative mechanism when arranged asshown in Fig ure 2, but with the fan shaft in section and the fanelement and the guard therefor omitted.

Figure 9 is a detailed side view showing a yieldable connection betweena power transmitting shaft of the motor and a fixed part for permittinga fan of the oscillatory type to be arrested at any point of its are ofoperation without injurious results.

Figure 10 is a plan view of the construction shown by Figure 9.

Figure 11 is an enlarged side elevation of one of the screen supportingbrackets and the motor carrying bracket showing the relative positionsoccupied when the fan is adjusted to stand beyond the face or front sideof the housing.

Figure 12 is a section on the line XII XII of Figure 11 but also showingthe clamping nut to secure said brackets at any desired point in theiradjustment.

Figure 13 is a fragmental perspective view ofthe upper end of one of thearms of the motor carrying bracket.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 1 indicates a suitable base forstanding upon a table, mantel or the like, and 2 is a horizontallyarranged cylindrical housing, preferably closed at its rear side by aback plate 3, which plate toavoid unnecessary width of the housing andto enhance the appearance thereof, may be of bowed form, and if desiredis of any suitable openwork, being shown as provided with slots 4 ofwhich only a view appears. The front end of the housing is open but forornamental effect the front margin is provided with a circular bead orflange 5.

When the appliance is not in use the open front end is normally closedby an ornamental screen. As shown the screen is composed of outer andinner concentric rings 6 and 7 rigidly connected by an ornamentalcircular panel 8, preferably of openwork construction. The ring 7 formsa frame within which a decorative picture may be mounted. In thedrawing, 9 indicates such a picture protected by a glass plate 10, itbeing desirable that the housing with the screen exposed as in Figure 1,shall constitute a distinct ornament not indicative of its utilitarianfunction or purpose.

Located within and vertically below the axis of the housing and upon thelower part thereof, is a pivot plate 11 having a cen tral upstanding hubportion 12 providing a central socket 13, and radiating from the raisedportion is a rib 14. Engaging the socket 13 is a tubular pivot 15 formedat one end of a rigid bracket 16 securedas at 17 and 18 respectively, tothe rings 6 and 7 of the screen. An upper bracket 19 substantially thesame as bracket 16, is secured as at 20 and 21 respectively, to rings 6and 7, and terminates in a pivot sleeve 22 vertically alined with thetubular pivot 15, and said sleeve is rigidly secured upon a verticalpivot pin 23 extending up through the top of the housing and through apivot plate 24 secured rigidly upon the housing. The

' pivot pin terminates in an enlargement or head 25, and at anintermediate point in its length in a plane above plate 24, with anenlarged angular portion 26 on which nonrotatably fits a. knob 0r handle27. In a, plane above the angular portion 26, the knob is formed with asocket. 528 capable of receiving the head of the pivot pin, and anexpansion coil spring 29 iitsaround the pivot pin within said socket andbears at its upper end against the head 25 and at its lower end againsta washer 30, which in turn bears downward upon the base of the socketand thus normally holds the knob depressed below the top of the head 25,with locking lugs 31 depending from the bottom of the knob, inengagement with locking sockets 32 formed in the top of the pivot plate21, as shown most clearly by Figures 1 and 5.

By this arrangement it will be apparent that before the screen can berotatably adjusted in a horizontal plane, the operator must first applyconjoint pressure downward upon the pivot pin and upward upon the knob.

By so doing the spring 29 yields and the knob moves upward out ofengagement with the pivot plate 2 1. \Vhile thus holding the knobdisengaged with the pivot plate, the knob is turned, the initialmovement drawing the lugs. 31 out of register with the sockets 32, theknob movement being continued, until it has been turned through onehundred and eighty degrees, when the action of the spring 29 willdepress the knob and cause its lugs 31 to engage the registering notches32, at which time it will be apparent the screen is standing within thehousing and near the back thereof, the front side of the screen facingrearwardly.

Any suitable or conventional electric fan mechanism either of the fixedor oscillating type may be cnn'floyed, that shown being one of aconvcntiomll oscillating type. For the support of the fan a pair ofvertically arranged brackets are employed, each being generally ofY-shape and comprising a horizontal stem 33 and a pair of diverging arms3-1, the arms bridging the inner ring 7 at 35.

The stems of said brackets are provided with longitudinal slots 36terminating at the bases of the stems in circular portions 37 of greaterdiameter than the width of the slots, and said stems are provided attheir outer sides and concentrically of said portions 37 of the slotswith outwardly projecting flanges 38.

A substantially Y-shaped bracket consists of the arms 39 and avertically slotted stem portion 40, this bracket, as hereinaftermentioned more in detail, serving as the actual and direct support forthe motor and fan.

The arms- 39 are disposed vertically at their upper extremities and fitflatly against the inner sides of the stems of the pair of bracketscarried by the screen. At their outer sides the arms 39 are formed orprovided with elongated lugs 41 for slidable action in slots 36, andsaid lugs are equipped with outwardly-projecting bolt stems 42, thelatter being made rigid with the Y-shaped bracket by pinning them as att3 to the lugs 41 or in any other suitable manner, it. being noted thatthe abutment of the lugs 41 against the pair of brackets limits relativeapproaching and receding movements between the Y-shaped bracket and thescreen, and' that when the said lugs occupy the circular enlargements 37of slots 36, it is possible for the bracket 39 to be tilted forwardly orrearwardly relative to the said pair of brackets and the screen, thesetilting movements making provision for the cirof the screen and fastenedthereto as s the said pair of screen-carried brackets. In

this connection it will be noted by reference to Figures 2, 11 and 13that the upper ends a of the arms 39 are extended as at 45 so as toprovide a'greater area of frictional engagement between themotor-carrying bracket and the screen-carried brackets, this making theconnection more stable and less liable to the production of undesirablenoises when the motor is in operation.

A conventional oscillatory electric fan motor is indicated at 46, 47indicating the shaft thereof, 48. the fan and 49 the fan guard. Themotor frame is arranged within the Y-shaped bracket carried by thescreen-carried brackets, and is swivelled on a fitting 5O engaging inthe slotted stem of said bracket and secured rigidly therein by clampingelements 51. The motor has the usual power transmitting shaft 52 fortransmitting power to effect oscillation of the fan if of that type, theshaft being provided with a disk 53 having an eccentric or crank pin 54pivotally connected by a link to a fixed point, so that through theoperation of the shaft the motor and fan shall be caused to oscillate.

lVith a fan of the cabinet type such as herein shown, the breaking ofthe circuit may occur with the fan element at any point in its are ofoscillation. If it happens when the circuit is broken, that the fanstops at any other point than immediately opposite and parallel with thescreen, it will be necessary to swing the fan back to the lastnamedposition before it can be horizontally adjusted with the screen todispose the latter as a closure for the front end of the housing. Forthis reason it is necessary that the connection or link between thecrank or eccentric pin 54 and the fixed point, shall be capable ofyielding under suflicient pressure, to permit the crank pin to approachthe said fixed point without effecting rotative movement of the shaft52.

To provide for such action the link con-' sists of a member 55 pivotedto the crank pin, a member 56 fitted slidinglyon member 55.and pivotedto an off-set lug 57 of the underlying fitting 50 on which the fan ismounted for oscillation, a fixed collar 58 on member 55, and a pair ofsprings 59 on member 55 and bearing against opposite sides of the collarand ends of member 56. l/Vhen the oscillation is occurring the compositelink is practically as rigid or unyielding as the one-piece linkconventional in oscillatory fans. Should the operation of the fan ceasewhen the latter is facing at the angle indicated for example, by thedotted lines in Figure 3, it would be impracticable to effect thehorizontal swivel adjustment necessary'to dispose the fan near the backand the screen at the front of the casing. To accomplish this theoperator simply grasps the fan guard and swings it to face the fandirectly forward; the composite link shortening or lengthening as thecase may be, under the pressure or pull applied to accomplish suchresult.

After the clamping nuts 44 are loosened, the fan and motor, includingthe supporting bracket therefor, can be slid rearwardly an thescreen-carried brackets until the ribs 41 have moved from the enlargedends to the opposite ends of slots 36. The motor and and fan and thepossibility of twisting or breaking the feed wire cable 60 leading tothe motor through the said pivot plate and the base of the housing, inthe event the operator holds the knob elevated too long- When theappliance is not in use the parts are disposed as indicated in Figure 2,it being noted that the fan and motor lie wholly within the casing andthat the screen forms a closure for the open front end of the housing.When it is desired to utilize the fan for circulating air, the operatorapplies pressure on the head of pivot pin 23 and exerts an upward'pullon the knob and rotates the latter to effect an exchange of positionbefan could operate with the parts relatively positioned as mentionedbecause air wouldenter the housing through the perforated back plate.lVith the parts of thew relative proportions shown, however, it isnecessary to shift the position of thefan with reference to the screenbefore there will be room for the former to oscillate, that is to say,it is necessary to slide the motor and fan forward on the screen-carriedbrackets 34 until the lugs 41 reach at that time the front ends of theslots 36, this adjustment increasing the distance between the screen andthe fan and projecting the latter beyond the front face of the housing.The clampin nut or nuts are then operated to clamp the motor-carryingbracket in its new position relative to the brackets 34, and the fanwill have ample room for operation without conilict with any part of thehousing, the dotted lines in Figure indicating the tan after it has beenadvanced as explained and when it is at one end of its limit ofoscillatory movement. When the fan is projected from the lmusing it cantake up air at its rear side without drawing it through the back plate 3of the housing, though it will operate more eiliciently it at least partof the air is permitted to reach the fan by way of said back plate. Theoscillation of the fan of course is etl'ected through the mechanismdetailed by Figures 8 and 10 though any equivalent or conventional meansmay be e1nployed for that purpose. It is also obvious that if it isdesired to circulate air upwardly or downwardly, it can be accomplishedas hereinbetore suggested by proper pivotal ad justt'nent of thefan-carrying bracket on the pair of screen-carried brackets. It will benoted that by locating the rotative axis forward of the center of thehousing, the mere act of turning the operative parts through one hundredand eighty degrees will project the tan partly through the front end ofthe housing, this being desirable as it reduces the distance necessaryto slide the fan forward far enough to oscillate without conflict withor abutment against the housing, an incidental advantage being that thehousing can be made of smaller diameter than would otherwise bepossible.

As the operation of the various parts has been explained in connectionwith the detailed description of such parts, it is believed no generalrecapitulation of operation is necessary or desirable, and it is to beunderstood that while I have illustrated and described the preferredembodiment of the invention, the right is reserved to make suchmodifications or changes as fall within the principle of constructionand mode of operation involved and within the spirit and scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination of a housing open at one end, a screen mounted forhorizontal rotative adjustment to stand as a closure for the said openend or within and near the opposite end of the housing, and a rotary tanwithin the housing rotatably adjustable with the screen, and spacedtherefrom and at the opposite side of the axis of rotative move ment andadapted for exposure at the said open end of the housing when the screenis within and adjacent the other end of the latter.

2. The combination of a housing open at one end, a screen mounted forhorizontal rotative adjustment to stand as a closure at the said openend or within and near the opposite end of the housing, and an electricfan rotatably adjustable with the screen, the air circulating element ofthe electric fan being at the opposite end of the motor element from thescreen and at the opposite side of the axis of rotative adjustment fromthe screen and adapted for exposure at the said open end of the housingwhenthe screen is within and adjacent the other end of the housing.

The combination of a housing open at one end, a screen mounted forhorizontal rotativc adjustment to stand as a closure for the said openend or within and near the opposite end of the housing, and a rotary tanwithin the housing rotatzably adjustable with the screen, "and spacedthercfromand at the opposite side of the axis ofrotative move ment andadapted for exposure at the said open end of the housing when the screenis within and adjacent the other end of the latter; the tan and screenbeing adjustable relatively toward and from each other.

4;. The combination of a housing open at one end, a screen mounted forhorizontal rotative adjustment to stand as a closure for the said openend or within and near the opposite end of the housing, and a rotary fanwithin the housing rotatably adj ust'able with the screen, and spacedtherefrom and at the opposite side of the axis of rotative movement andadapted for exposure at the said open end of the housing when the screenis within and adjacent the other end of the latter; the fan beingtiltable in a vertical plane to direct air upwardly or downwardly aswell as horizontally.

The combination of a housing open at one end, a screen mounted forhorizontal rotative adjustment to stand asa closure for the said openend or within and near the opposite end of the housing, and a rotary fanwithin the housing rotatably adjustable with the screen, and spacedtherefrom and at the opposite side of the axis of rotative movement andadapted for exposure at the said open end of the housing when the screenis within and adjacent the other end of the latter; the fan and screenbeing adjustable relatively toward and from each other, and the fanbeing tiltable in a vertical plane for directing air upwardly ordownwardly as well as horizontally.

(3. The combination of ahousing open at one end, a screen mounted forhorizontal rotative adjustment to stand as a closure for the. said openend or within and near the opposite end of the housing, an electric fancarried by and adjustable toward or from said screen and rotatablyadjustable with the latter and adapted when the screen is within andadjacent the said opposite end of the housing to be exposed at the openend of the latter, and means to secure the screen and fan in either ofthe positions of adjustment mentioned.

7. The combination of a housing open at one end, a screen mounted forhorizontal rotative adjustment to stand as'a. closure for maticallylimiting the rotative adjustment mentionedto approximately one hundredand eighty degrees. i.

8. The combination ofa housing open at one end,.a screen mounted forhorizontal rotative ad ustment to stand as a closure for the said openend or within and near the opposite end of the housing, a pair ofbrackets projecting from the screen, an upright bracket carried by the"first-named brackets, a fitting carried by the upright bracket, anelectric fan mounted for oscillation in a horizontal plane on saidfitting, the motor element being disposed between the fan elementandthescreen and the fan element at the opposite side of said pair ofbrackets from the motor element.

one end, a screen mounted for horizontal rotative adjustment to stand asa closure for the said open end or within and near the opposite end ofthe housing, apair of brackets projecting'from the screen, an uprightbracket carried by the first-named brackets, a fitting carried by theupright bracket, an electric fan mounted for oscillation in a horizontalplane on said fitting, the motor element being disposed between the fanelement and the screen and the fan element at the opposite side of saidpair of brackets from the motor element; said upright. bracket beingadjustable on 7 said pair of brackets toward and from said screen.

10. The combination with a housing open at one end, a screen normallyclosing the open endof the housing, an electric fan carried by thescreen for oscillation ma horizontal plane, thefan element beingdisposed at the opposite end of the motor element from the screen, meanspivotally securing the screen to thehousing, means for horizontallyrotating the screen and electric fan to efiect an exchange of positionbetween them, a driven shaft forming a part of the motor, and a linkbetween said shaft and a point fixed With'relation to the screen; saidlink comprising two members bearin an endwise slidable relation, and apair 0' springs exerting force tending to hold the two elements againstslidable action, one of the springs-tending to prevent extension of thelink and the other the shortening of the link.

I 11. The combination with a fitting and an electric fan swivelledthereon for horizontal oscillatory movement, of a link connect- .betweenthe screen and the electric ing a driven shaft of the motoreccentrically with said fitting, and comprising two memberslongitudinally slidable upon each other, a collar on one. of themembers, and a pair of springs on said member and bearing againstopposite sides of said collar and 12. In an appliance of the characterdescribed, a vertical screen, a pair of vertical brackets carried bysaid screen and projecting rearwarclly therefrom, an upright applyingpressure in opposite directions vagainst the other member.

substantially Y-shaped bracket carried by said pair of brackets, afitting secured to the stem of said bracket and forming a swivel supportfor the motor element of the fan,

and aflink cccentrically connected to a driven shaft of the motor and tosaid fittingeccentrically of the swivel point of the motor element; saidlink comprising members slid ,ably related longitud1nal-ly,-and a pairof springs tending to resist relative slidable movement "of said membersin either direction.

18. In an appliance of the character described, thecombination of ahousing open .atxone end, a screen normally closing said 9. Thecombination of a housing open at open end and pivoted to swing in ahorizontal plane, the pivotal axis being nearer the said open end thanthe other end of the housing,

an electric fan carried by the screen'at the opposite side of thepivotal point of the screen from the latter, the

shall effect horizontal oscillation thereoff relative to the screen.

14. In an appliance of the character de scribed, the combination of ahousing open at one end, a screen normallyv closing said open end andpivoted to swing in a horizontal plane, the pivotal axis'being nearerthe said open end than the other end of the housing, an electric fancarried by the screen at the opposite side of the pivotal point of thescreen from the latter, the fan element being at the oppositeend of themotor element from the screen, manually operable means for effecting anexchange of osition an, the electric fan being adjustable toward andfrom the screen and tiltable around a horizontal axis when at the mostremote point of adjustment from the screen, means to guard againstaccidental tiltable action of the fan except when in the said remoteposition of adjustment relative to the fan, and means to clamp the fanagainst accidental tilting movement when in said remote position ofadjustment.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

ARTHUR H. BUGKLEY.

, fan element bein at the opposite end of the motor element rom

